My daughter's take on Death Valley

So, I've been all excited about doing lots of cycling training and focusing hard on getting to Death Valley. Of course my little daughter knows all about this, but it wasn't until a chance converastion the other day that I really thought about it from her prespective.

Imy was 6 last Saturday. She is intelligent, great fun but is also really caring. This is why it was no surprise to me some time ago that she put her pocket money in the collection tin for my bike ride. We had been talking about why I was raising money and talked a lot about how lucky she is compared to many people here and abroad. She really likes the idea of helping others. I was (am) very proud of her.

Recently, though, she has started to be come a bit anxious about my cycling. There are two reasons for this. Given that she's pretty good on a bike (and is now practising riding down the concrete steps outside her house) I have insisted that she wears a helmet. I always wear one. But in explaining why it is important, we talked about how one can fall off a bike, or how cars and cyclists can be unpredictable and how without a helmet you have more of a risk of injury. Brains here didn't really realise that she now worries everytime I go out on my bike that some disaster might befall me. I'll admit it, I have not been totally honest with her. I convince that everything's fine - I wear a helmet, have high visibility stuff and not to worry, but the fact is that nearly everytime I go out, it's more than a little dangerous.

I have lost count of the times I have nearly been sideswipped by a truck or car. Going through Hove is a nightmare as people come out of junctions, checking for cars, but utterly failing to see me coming. If it's slightly wet breaking is ...interesting... and at speed my back wheel does have a tendancy to fishtail. She knows none of this of course. Incidentally drivers, I've changed my driving style quite significantly and I'd love it if you would too!

But the other thing I just didn't think about is the name Death Valley. For me, it's a place. I know it's hot and potentially dangerous. Imy, though, thought I was going to a place where I would literally die... I guess I should have been a bit more thoughtful. Credit to Imy though, she's not told me I shouldn't go and has always said that it's good to raise money for people less fortunate. Having talked about what I'm actually doing and looked at pictures of the place, she's much more content. So I will miss her hugely, but at least I know she won't be wracked with torment whilst I'm away.

It's also been great to have her involved in my little project. If nothing else, it's meant that we now go out on our bikes together quite often, which I love.

That said, I have three funeral directors kindly sponsoring me. ...don't think I'm going to tell her that.

Rich

Fame at last....

...well I'm delighted to have made it into the Argus today, but it comes when my body is feeling decidedly odd. For the first time in my life I have been having twinges in my hamstrings. This comes off the back of having a few days away from the bike following a stomach upset. Anyway, I awoke this morning to tightness in both hamstrings and their feeling quite tender....

So, to all you budding Gregory Houses out there - is this just a need for stretching, something else, or me just knocking on a bit? If it's the latter, frankly, I'm feeling a bit gutted....!

On much brighter news, I had a lovely meeting with @Jas_Robertson of Sussed PR on Monday who has really generously offered to help me with raising my profile and giving me some fundraising ideas - so wtach this space. In the meantime, I have a new photoshoot booked for early next week and have a new facebook page which I hope will be a useful portal to upload blog entries and possibly video blogs whilst I'm in the US. But do any of you have suggestions as to what you'd like to see?

Let me know!

Finally, thanks, as always, to the Starr Trust team for their support.

Rich

FOUR WEEKS TO GO!

Not long to go now and I decided it was time to up my training.

Last weekend I made use of the hot weather (30 degrees C?) to get some proper miles in. I was pretty pleased with my route:

Henfield>Partridge Green>Ashington>up the A24, then across to Cowfold>Bolney>Ansty>Burgess Hill>Ditchling>Hassocks>

Hurstpierpoint >Henfield. 

It worked out at just over 46 miles, done in 3 hours with 3 litres of water/lucozade. I was most pleased with my hardwork in the heat and (because I reeeeally fancied an ice cream and I knew an ice cream van would be there) my non stop destruction of Ditching Beacon. It was lovely sitting on top of the Beacon, grabbing 10 minutes or so in the sunshine - check out the great view:

Some other great news too. For the last number of weeks I've been trying to do various things on my bike with the aid of my cycle computer. I have now clocked over 1,000 miles on the bike (which I can scarcely believe!) at an average speed of 16.4 miles per hour. Given that the majority of my trips involve me going over Devil's Dyke each time, I'm pretty pleased with that!

But, because I'm so vain, my favourite record is my all time top speed, which I demolished on Monday. My usual cycle route takes me from either Small Dole or Henfield, Over the Dyke into Hove (where I work). It's a relatively tough ride in as it's marginally uphill until the Dyke and then it goes monstrously steep. So by the time I get there, I'm not feeling as fresh as when I go over it on the journey home. 

On the way back, it's one large hill to the Dyke, then there's a down, an up, a down and an up then, again, it's slightly downhill. It takes around 45 minutes to get in and 40 to get back. But there's just one place where it's long enough and steep enough to get a really good speed on - that's on the homeward trip and the first 'down' from Devil's Dyke, past Waterhall. For top speeds I need: no other traffic (preferably) a tail wind or no wind and a dry road. Well, on Monday I had optimum conditions and I smashed my pervious top speed of 45.9mph by getting 48.5 mph. I know I can get to that magic 50 mph - I just need to pedal harder down the full stretch of the hill (and I also need to be brave/insane enough to do it). Will keep you posted.

For those that are interested, yes I know it's stupid, yes it is scary how my back wheel fishtails at that speed and yes I do know that if I come off it will hurt. Still, I've got to get that 50mph...!

I've also been busy with the more mundane stuff. However, I need your assistance - what on earth shall I wear when I'm over there (when I'm not cycling), what music should go on my ipod, what book shall I take and do you have any other suggestions on what should go into my bag? Seriously, it's time I got organised - so please can you help?!

As ever, thank you so much to all those who have supported and/or sponsored me so far - the fundrasing level is so great - I'm really pleased - thank you.

Rich

Friday 23 September 2011

Another Friday, so another week gone and the clock is ticking to my Death Valley trip!

I had a really good catch up on Wednesday with Rob, the brains and energy behind the Edward Starr Charitable Trust - great to see him and greatt to feed off his energy. Talking of which, do check out his blog via the trust website www.starrtrust.com. Rob is doing a monumental swim challenge and it's really deserving of everyone's support.

I did a sponsors post last time, but didn't have all the logos, so here's another one for now (more will follow). Bungards has been really supportive and generous, so my thanks to them - it's really appreciated. Although I seem to have a few funeral directors supporting me (hoping for business?!) I have only approached the ones we use and like and I encourage you all to do the same, if teh circumstances present themselves. Check out Bungard's website.

Well, I have had a bit of an admin splurge - the passport is renewed, ESTA (visa) is in place, insurance sorted and I've started thinking about what stuff I'll need to take. I have handed over some of the sponsorship money to the Starr Trust (that has been raised offline) (we're nearly at £4,000 by the way) and I've put in place my sponsor's jersey - a couple more logos to go and I can get it printed. Anyone want to fill up some space? If you're interested please let me know.

I will have some more exciting news to give (probably next week) which should have a brilliant impact on my challenge!

Finally, this weekend I plan to try out my cyclecam so I can post video. Any requests for routes etc, message me or feel free to tweet to @brightlawyer.

Rich

Thank you sponsors!

As you have probably gathered, I have been receiving a huge amount of support and encouragement for all sorts of people, for which I'm incredibly grateful. With that in mind,  I thought I'd take a moment to give you a snapshot of the local businesses who have been so generous. Where possible, I've included a link to their websites - please take a moment to visit them or bear them in mind when you next need some assistance:

Sawyer & Co Website

Sawyer & Co - Residential estate and letting agents covering the Brighton, Hove, Hangleton, Portslade and Southwick areas. We are independent estate and letting agents with offices situated in high profile locations in Hove and Portslade.

Shoreham Port website

Shoreham Port is a thriving, diverse and modern port, with excellent infrastructure and facilities. Our helpful and friendly staff, coupled with state of the art monitoring systems, will ensure that your cargo is handled in a fast and efficient manner.

 Michelle Tanner's website

I am proud to be an independent female funeral director - I am here to provide you with the exact funeral service you wish always with pride, care and dignity.

 Whitlock & Heaps' website

Whitlock and Heaps is a family run independent estate agents specialising in all property matters. Recommendations and referrals form an integral part of our business and through offering a personal and individual service we intend to continue to impress old and new clients coming through our doors.

 Limpio's website

 Limpio Office Solutions provide document output device management (including print, photocopying and fax), document management, document workflow systems, and archive storage of legacy documents which can be scanned directly to clients and document device control software.

 

 Austin Gray's website

Austin Gray and Young lee provide a wide array of property services including Estate Agency, Lettings, Auction, investment, development and professional services. 

 Pembroke Financial Services' website

We passionately believe that Independent, 'whole of market' financial advice is the ONLY way forward.We provide high quality financial choices provided by professional financial advisers and support staff with over 90 years of combined financial services experience. Our existing clients will know that we always prefer the personal 'face to face' contact to provide them with the high quality of service and advice which they have come to expect.

 Clickcover's website

Originally set up as Seico Insurance, the main focus was to be an independent insurance broker offering a personal & friendly service to personal & business clients. As a family run business which has traded for over 20 years we've not lost sight of the fact that insurance remains a service based business & our clients remain the lifeblood of the company.

Aurora's website

Aurora is a leading provider of residential, commercial and new build energy performance certificates (epcs), SAP assessments, land registry lease plans, asbestos surveys and fire risk assessments.We supply high quality 2d/3d interactive floor plans, audio tours, photography, photo enhancing and more.Our forward thinking approach combined with exceptional customer service means Aurora are the preferred provider with many leading estate agents, solicitors, homeowners and property professionals.

Dark Star's website

The Dark Star Brewing Company was born in 1994 in the cellar of The Evening Star Pub, in Brighton. Within a few hard working years it was obvious that the brewery could not keep up with the growing thirst of the Evening Star’s drinkers, yet alone the demand for its beers from other local pubs and beer festivals.In 2001, the team relocated the brewery to Ansty, near Haywards Heath ans a few years on once again moved to a bigger site in Partridge Green, Horsham, West Sussex. No one really wanted to leave the cellar of the pub, but apparently more and more people liked drinking the same beers as us, so we needed to brew more…

 

Attree & Kent's website

Attree & Kent is Brighton and Hove's oldest established Funeral Directors taking care of all the necessary arrangements for thousands of families since 1780. We provide all of the services that you would expect from your local Funeral Director and will arrange the funeral that you would like to the letter of your wishes. Our promise is that if it is possible, and what you would like, we will make it happen. We are a truly 24 service, 7 days a week. We are here to help and support you whenever you need us.

Blockbusters' website 

We are a privately owned - non-franchised company who offer very well trained and respectful staff at very reasonable prices. If you have blocked drains, toilets, pipes, gutters, or need emergency plumbing repairs to showers, baths, saniflo’s, septic tanks or urinals we can quickly unclog and clear all blockages.  We also unclog and clean and repair pipes, interceptor traps and soakaways. At our offices near Brighton we have over 100 years of drainage and plumbing experience so you can be assured that whatever the problem we will be able to fix it, so please call our friendly staff now: 0800 0689282

19th September 2011

Here we are - another week started and now just 6 WEEKS TO GO UNTIL DEATH VALLEY!!

Firstly, wow - what a gorgeous ride in to Hove from Henfield this morning! Relatively cool (I had to wear my arm warmers for the first time) but a lovely crisp autumn morning nonetheless. For a while I thought the sum wasn't yet fully up, until I realised that I had changed the lenses on my glasses and it was making everything orangey. What a dork. (Although not a stupid as the previous day when I forgot to take my contacts out the night before and then put another pair on over the top).

Anyway, I made it into Hove in my quickest time to date - 39 minutes. I'm pretty pleased with that, given that I took it easy due to not much cycling last week. Also, I am sporting one of my new outfits (Team Castelli). I've no idea whether they are any good or not or who is actually in the team - it's just that the colours match my bike. Shallow, I know.


I'm still getting so much support from local businesses - the latest being Michelle Tanner Funeral Services in Hove. Michelle has made a very generous gift - thank you very much. ...Hopefully, I won't need her repatriation services anytime soon though...





Ok, I'll be honest - I'm getting a teeeeny bit concerned about the heat in Death Valley. The weather forecast (sponsored by my iPhone) shows Death Valley regularly coming in at 45˚C..... I have to say that I thought November might be a little cooler.... Ah well, I shall have to go back to my climate conditioning plan, which consists of sitting in saunas at spa hotels whilst my vodka & tonic is prepared....

(eeek)



After some careful thought I have decided to reduce my sponsorship target. Given that it's now just me (due to Michael unfortunately not being able to make the trip) I think the £6,000 might be just a little too high to aim for. I have therefore revised the target down to £5,000. I'm 75% of the way there now and I'm so pleased with all this support you've all been giving me. I want a target I can achieve although in my heart I'll still be going for £6,000 - ...let's just see how it goes.

Finally, OTHER BREAKING NEWS: ...haircut tomorrow - my helmet hair is getting out of hand.

Rich

Not long now....

It's been a little while since my last post - sorry about that. There are two reasons. Firstly, it's been a slightly quieter time on the cycling front, what with holidays etc. However, you will also have seen from the previous post that, unfortunately, Michael has had to pull out of the challenge due to personal reasons. We're both really disappointed about this, but I have made a commitment that,. no matter what happens, I will be in Death Valley on schedule trying very hard to complete the Cycle of Death!

In light of Michael's news, it should be said that, if anyone has any concerns about donations already made, please do contact me. The feedback so far is that those who have donated, or pledged to do so, wish to honour their commitment, but it would be remiss of me not to give you all the opportunity to consider your position. I hope, however, you will all be willing to see it through with me.

...anyway enough of that!

Cycling first - I did the London to Brighton Overnight ride on 4 September 2011. It was really great. I was pretty apprehensive as it was the first serious amount of miles I've done for some time. In fact, it represents just one of teh five days' worth of cycling in Death Valley. So it was important for me not to just finish in a respectable time, but also to get on my bike the next day and get some more miles under my belt.

We started in Semley Place in London at Midnight and I arrived (in the top 10%) 4hours 58 mins later. I am pretty pleased about this as I did stop for about 20 mins in Copthorne and also spent the best part of an hour going slowly behind other riders whose lights were much more effective than mine in the heavy fog! I am doubly delighted that I destroyed Ditchling Beacon. It was a fantastic feeling to get to the top and think 'I could do that again'.

After a rest in Brighton whilst we all watched other cyclists finish, it was another 15 or so miles home, which turned out to be a welcome warm down.

Whilst I knew London to Brighton would be fine, I was a little concerned about a ride a next day. Still (and despite the rain), I got another 20 miles done and came away feeling much more relaxed about Death Valley - no real stiffness or soreness, but ok, yes, a bit of chafing....!

So good news really - I'm going to keep up the training and I'm reeeeally looking forward to the challenge itself!

The other big news is a spike in donation to the Starr Trust! I've written a load of letters, hassled a load of people and called in a load of favours. However, with around £800 coming in or pledged within the last 10 days, I'm nearly at the £4,000! I'm so overwhelmed at the response and support from everyone. In particular, thank you to: Sawyer & Co, Limpio Office Solutions, @AuroraProperty, @WhitlockHeaps, @DarkStarBrewing, Pembroke Financial Services, Austin Gray, Shoreham Port, Clickcover.com, the CPJ Field family and Michelle Tanner. I'm doing regular updates and I'll shotly have photos of me with bike with a Death Valley jerseys with supporters logos on it. Any suggestions for the base colour?

Catch up soon!!!